Review Detail

On the Jellicoe Road was where it all began. This pretty road, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La, decided the fate of five teens twenty-two years ago.

 

Taylor Markham embarks on a journey to decipher how she is related to Webb, Tate, Fitz, Narnie and Jude. Her most revealing clue is a manuscript written by Hannah, the person who she has come to rely on since her mother abandoned her 7 years ago. Only now, Hannah has mysteriously disappeared.

 

There are other things on Taylors mind aside from uncovering her seventeen year past. She is leader of the boarders at the Jellicoe School. She has responsibilities and power. The Townies and Cadets have arrived for their annual territory war. Her best friend Raffy is there to help her keep the upper hand in these wars and deal with the temperamental Chaz Santangelo, leader of the Townies, and the enigmatic leader of the Cadets, Jonah Griggs.

 

Melina Marchettas brilliantly compelling third novel follows a girls journey to come to terms with her traumatic past and link the significance of Jellicoe Road to it.

 

The flashbacks to the past form an entirely different tale about five friends who lived in that area years ago. It runs parallel to Taylors story. As the novel progresses, their connections to the current generation of teens eventually become evident.

 

The reader is positioned through Taylors eyes, plunging us into the action and allowing us to empathise with her experiences. She is rather apathetic towards being captain and a role model for her school. She can be pessimistic and stubborn at times. But she eventually discovers that theres a joy and abundance of everything.

 

A variety of characters, all with contrasting personalities, add entertainment to the intense storyline. These true-to-life characters are far from perfect. Raffy and Chaz have an obvious history. Jonah features in Taylors tumultuous past.

 

The setting reflects the history of these children. Jellicoe Road symbolically binds the past to the present. It contains memories of trauma, guilt, hardship and betrayal. Themes of love, teenage angst and self-discovery are also thoroughly explored through the captivating plot.

 

On the Jellicoe Road was the recipient of the 2009 Printz Prize for its literary excellence in teenage fiction. Marchettas confronting tale dwells on the importance of knowing our own history and having someone to share it with. It is deserving of this award in every aspect: the absorbing plot, uniquely crafted characters and the crucial life lessons it teaches.